New guidelines: Cabinet Secy holds meeting for effective implementation

Hours after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued revised guidelines for the second phase of the nationwide lockdown, the Cabinet Secretary on Wednesday (April 15) held a meeting to discuss its effective implementation, the MHA spokesperson said.

Chief Secretaries of states and Directors General of Police, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Union Home Secretary, Union Health Secretary, Collectors and Commissioners of City Corporations were present in the meeting, The Indian Express reported.

The new guidelines that will come in effect on April 20 have relaxed some restrictions on sectors like health, agriculture, transportation and finance, MGNREGA works and e-commerce services. It was issued a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the nationwide lockdown until May 3.

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In order to mitigate hardship to the public, select additional activities would be allowed, which would come into effect from April 20, 2020, the ministry said in a press release. But these additional activities would be operationalized by states and district administrations based on strict compliance with the existing guidelines on lockdown, it said.

“Before operating these relaxations, States/ UTs/ District Administrations shall ensure that all preparatory arrangements with regard to social distancing in offices, workplaces, factories and establishments, and other sectoral requirements are in place,” it added.

The revised guidelines, however, will not apply in containment zones.